154: He is not my apprentice.

Through the Aura on Tang Ku, the true strength he displayed in healing him earlier, and that meaningful smile, Pigsy concluded that the Tang Sanzang before him was absolutely, unequivocally not to be provoked!

Although the Qi was still the same, and the scent on him hadn't changed, he felt that his Master had changed, no longer like the weak monk of the past, but rather like a general commanding a battlefield, and moreover, subtly enveloped by a trace of Killing Intent.

“What exactly happened to Master during this time?”

Pigsy couldn't help but wonder in his heart.

The two slowly descended from the clouds, when suddenly Pigsy saw the Brick following closely behind them, and couldn't help but quietly ask Tang Ku, “Master, is this Divine Beast your new mount? Speaking of which, where is Ao Lie? I saw that fellow was quite strong earlier, and he seemed very loyal to you!”

“This matter is hard to explain…”

Tang Ku said, “Let's deal with the current situation first, then I'll tell you about it!”

The moment they landed, Mahākāśyapa had just managed to crawl out of the mud. He was extremely disheveled, with blood flowing down from the top of his head. However, it seemed the wound had healed, but the blood that had flowed out would not disappear with the recovery of the injury. So, the blood mixed with mud made him look like a disaster victim from a disaster area, appearing utterly miserable.

He clutched two Buddhist beads in his hand... Most of his current magical power had been used to heal his injuries. Otherwise, Pigsy's single rake strike could have taken his life. The remaining magical power was simply not enough to utilize the power of the Buddhist beads.

However, holding these two Buddhist beads in his hand made him feel much safer psychologically.

“Tang… Tang Sanzang, what… what do you intend to do?”

Seeing the monk in the moon-white monastic robe and the tall, long-snouted monk, Mahākāśyapa's heart trembled slightly.

Plus that formidable monster behind them… he was all alone!

However, even now, he didn't feel any pressure from Tang Sanzang, because he hadn't seen Tang Sanzang truly make a move from beginning to end.

“Mahākāśyapa, I, Tang Sanzang, believe I have never offended you. Why have you been so difficult since our first meeting? Today, you even launched a sneak attack, attempting to kill me. I truly don't understand why you would do this? What benefit is there for you?”

Tang Ku said in a deep voice.

“Benefit? Hehe, do I need a benefit to deal with you?” Mahākāśyapa suddenly remembered something and said angrily, “Have you forgotten the times you humiliated me when you were Golden Cicada? Hehe, this is merely me returning the favor!”

Tang Ku was suddenly stunned, and then a memory abruptly surfaced in his mind.

Since his Transmigration to the Journey to the West world, his primary memory remained that of Tang Ku, not Tang Sanzang or Golden Cicada. However, the three of them were, after all, one person. Those long-hidden memories would gradually emerge upon seeing familiar people or familiar events. What appeared in his mind were the past incidents of Golden Cicada and Mahākāśyapa being at odds!

That's right, they were at odds.

From the very beginning, Golden Cicada disliked this Mahākāśyapa. Although they were Senior Brothers, Mahākāśyapa was always a step behind Golden Cicada in wisdom.

Originally, this was nothing. At such a time, one should have some ambition, making up for a lack of wisdom with diligence, to better understand the Buddha Dharma, right?

But he didn't do so. Instead, he Cultivated some minor Spells and the like, using them to understand the essence of Buddha Dharma. For instance, if his memory was insufficient, he would Cultivate a Spell to enhance his ability to remember key points. If his comprehension was lacking, he would use a Spell similar to a stimulant to improve his understanding. Buddhism emphasizes practical action, daily farming and labor, but he would take shortcuts, manipulating farm tools with Spells to be lazy… In short, all his actions were opportunistic tricks.

However, Golden Cicada observed all of this. Originally, he had considered Mahākāśyapa a formidable rival, but who knew this fellow would use such methods to cheat? Even during the Buddha's questions, Mahākāśyapa would secretly cast a mind-awakening Spell to answer.

Therefore, in Golden Cicada's eyes, such a person was simply unworthy of being his opponent. Many times, he would go to great lengths to mock him, sometimes even publicly exposing his shortcomings and revealing his use of Spells to cheat.

And it was precisely because of this that he became thoroughly hated by Mahākāśyapa.

So, from then on, the two disliked each other. However, no matter how Mahākāśyapa secretly targeted him with petty actions, Golden Cicada merely regarded them as the tricks of a clown, not putting him in his eyes at all.

Later, he was ordered to undergo Reincarnation, eventually becoming Tang Seng. During the journey to the West to retrieve scriptures, he tried every possible means to torment Tang Seng. Whether it was demanding favors or secretly transmitting false scriptures, these were all his private actions. As for why the Tathagata condoned such behavior, even Tang Sanzang never fully understood.

Now, Mahākāśyapa is finally like a bird escaped from its cage, free from any restraints, finally letting himself go. He even refined a Gu Mantong using the Buddhist beads bestowed by the Buddha, and used it to kill and harm, collecting souls for his own use to increase his Cultivation. It can be said that he has completely deviated from what a Disciple of Buddhism should be. Calling him a disgrace to Buddhism would be an exaggeration!

Now, seeing Tang Seng appear before him again, this combination of new and old grievances filled him with raging anger, thus he harbored murderous intent, wanting to completely remove this thorn in his side and eye.

“...Boundless... Guangdu Xin Buddha!”

Tang Ku clasped his hands together and said faintly, “So that’s it… Hehe, Poor Monk understands now. You, fellow, have been completely corroded by the three poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion. You vainly attempt to raise your Cultivation with the power of souls—this is greed. You kill and harm out of hatred for me—this is having moved to anger. You are deeply trapped in hatred, unable to extricate yourself—this is delusion… After Cultivating for so many years, you truly are a Disciple of Buddhism in vain…”

“Hehe, are so many idle words useful?”

Mahākāśyapa sneered, “Don’t forget you once vowed to Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva that you would not harm any of our Buddhist Disciples. If you kill me, you will break your vow. If you know what’s good for you, let me leave. Otherwise, from now on, you, Tang Sanzang, will be an enemy of our Buddhist sect!”

“Oh, so you’ve already met Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva?” Tang Ku suddenly smiled, a very strange smile, “I never said I would act!”

“Hmph, him?”

Mahākāśyapa looked at Pigsy and sneered, “He is your Disciple. If he kills me, it means you condone it, and you will still not escape the pursuit of our Buddhist sect!”

“Oh, is that so!”

Tang Ku, however, was amused and said to Pigsy, “Bajie, you are greedy and lazy, timid and cowardly. From today onwards, your Master will expel you from the sect. The mistakes you commit… have nothing to do with your Master!”

Mahākāśyapa was instantly dumbfounded, his sneering expression frozen on his face, looking quite comical.

Pigsy said with a depressed look, “Master, you actually didn’t have to say those first few sentences…”